Pelargonium plant named &#39;PACPOLLY&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Pacpolly’, characterized by its uniformly mounding, rounded and cascading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and dark orange semi-double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACPOLLY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pacpolly’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous Ivy Geranium plants with uniform plant habit and numerous attractive semi-double flowers.

The new Ivy Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2010 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium peltatum, not patented. The new Ivy Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since December, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Ivy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pacpolly’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacpolly’ as a new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant:

1. Uniformly mounding, rounded and cascading plant habit.

2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely basal branching habit.

4. Dark green-colored leaves.

5. Freely flowering habit.

6. Dark orange semi-double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant habit as plants of the new Ivy Geranium are more uniform than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargunium peltatum ‘Pacapri’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,089. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ from plants of ‘Pacapri’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium are more mounding than plants of ‘Pacapri’.

2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium are not as vigorous as plants of ‘Pacapri’.

3. Plaids of the new Ivy Geranium have more flowers per umbel than plants of ‘Pacapri’.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Ivy Geranium have more petals than flowers of plants of ‘Pacapri’

5. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium and ‘Pacapri’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Pacapri’ have apricot-colored flowers.

6. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have shorter peduncles and pedicels than plants of ‘Pacapri’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Ivy Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ivy Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacpolly’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Ivy Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were pinched two times and were nine months old when the photograph and the detailed description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum ‘Pacpolly’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Uniformly mounding, rounded and             cascading plant habit; densely foliated; moderately vigorous             growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely basal branching             habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 38 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 29 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 40 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Mostly opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Pointed.         -   Base.—Cordate; open.         -   Margin.—Entire, lobed.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent along the veins.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,             close to 146D. Zonation pattern: Not discernable.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double rotate             flowers arranged in hemispherical umbels arising from apical             leaf axils; umbels displayed above and beyond the foliar             plane on strong peduncles; umbels and flowers face upright             to outwardly; freely flowering habit; about eleven flowers             per umbel and numerous umbels developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants begin             flowering about four months after planting; in the garden in             Germany, flowering begins in May and continues until frost             in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the             plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant;             flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Spindle-shaped to rounded. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About 17 in several whorls;             petals imbricate. Length: About 2 cm to 2.2 cm. Width: About             1.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; undulate. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 40A; small markings, close             to 45A; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, close to             40A; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 41C; towards the             base, close to 155D; venation, close to 41C.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: If present, up to three at             the center of the flower. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.             Width: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Pointed             to rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; crinkled.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 40A; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, close to             40A; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 41C; towards the             base, close to 155D; venation, close to 41C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About six arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Upright to outwardly             slanted. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:             Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About four. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Close to 54A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pullen color: Close to 168C. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma             shape: Five to six-parted. Stigma color: Close to 52A. Style             length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 36D. Ovary color:             Close to 148D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development             have not been observed on plants of the new Ivy Geranium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy     Geranium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about     35° C. to 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Pacpolly’ as illustrated and described. 